- Creating Eco-Conscious Products
- Environmental Compliance of Products
- Disclosure of Environmental Attributes
- Collaboration with Suppliers
- Acquisition of Environmental Certifications
- Collection and Recycling Efforts in Various Countries
Acquisition of Environmental Certifications
Promoting the active acquisition of environmental labels from around the world
Environmental labels indicate that the selected product shows consideration for the environment, and provide customers helpful information when selecting eco-conscious products. Environmental labels come in three types (Type I, II and III) standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or a compliance label that indicates that the product complies with specific performance criteria.
There are various environmental labels in the countries and regions around the world in which the Brother Group operates. The respective labels (which are based on different eco-conscious requirements and standards) are considered to meet customers' environmental requirements and the basic stance of the Brother Group is to actively acquire 2the environmental labels for applicable products in the countries and regions where our products are sold.
Under this policy, the Brother Group prioritized the acquisition of specific environmental labels in various countries, including the Blue Angel, Eco Mark, EPEAT, Nordic Swan Ecolabel, and China's Ten Circle Mark, in the Brother Group Environmental Action Plan 2024 (2022 -2024), and has been making efforts to that end.
Below are the main environmental labels acquired by Brother products.
Type I labels
Awarded by third-party organizations based on their unique classifications and judgment criteria
The Blue Angel (Germany)
This eco-label is issued by the Federal Environmental Agency, the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labeling, etc.
In July 2008, the MFC-6490CW and DCP-6690CW were the first inkjet All-in-Ones in the world to be certified according to
the ink-jet standard of that time.
In the current standard (DE-UZ219), besides even higher environmental requirements for products, adherence to the core labor standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding due diligence in raw material procurement, support for regional initiatives regarding responsible mining, and social sustainability during production are included.
In addition, in June 2023, TN-3512 RE became the first in the world to be certified under the recycled cartridge standard (DE-UZ 177).
For the news release, visit:
https://global.brother/en/news/2023/230803blueangel
Brother actively promotes compliance with the standard.
- German Environment Agency (UBA)
German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labeling (RAL gGmbH), the Blue Angel
(Link to the Blue Angel website)
Nordic Swan Ecolabel (five Scandinavian countries)
This eco-label is administered primarily by the Nordic Ecolabelling Board, and is used in five Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland).
Since Brother received this eco-label for mainly its black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones in 2009, we have now also received the eco-label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones and inkjet multi-function printers.
- Nordic Ecolabelling Board, the Nordic Swan
(Link to Nordic Swan website)
EPEAT (in the U.S.)
This is an environmental rating system for electronic products that is managed and administered by a NPO, the Global Electronics Council.
Compliance evaluations* of the entire product life cycle are performed using the EPEAT criteria that are based on current environmental laws and regulations. EPEAT criteria consist of required and optional ones; products are ranked Gold, Silver, or Bronze depending on the level of conformity with the optional criteria.
Since Brother received certification for its black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones in 2017, we now also have received certification for products such as color laser printers, inkjet printers, and scanners.
- Judgments are based on laws and regulations, etc. in respective countries and regions. Thus, the same product may have different ranks
- Global Electronics Council (GEC)
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)
(Link to the EPEAT website)
China Environmental Labeling plan (China)
This government-run eco-label (the Ten Circle Mark) is issued by the China Environmental United Certification Center under the jurisdiction of the State Environmental Protection Administration.
Brother has acquired this label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones, black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones and scanners.
Eco Mark (Japan)
This eco-label is managed by Eco Mark Office of the Japan Environment Association. It is awarded to products that minimize environmental impact and aid environmental protection across their entire life cycle (from production to disposal).
- "Eco Mark" by Eco Mark Office of the Japan Environment Association
(Link to the "Eco Mark" website. This website is available only in Japanese.)
Note: The power consumption figures for Eco Mark certified products can be found in the following website.
- Power consumption figures based on the International ENERGY STAR Program
(Link to the International ENERGY STAR Program website. This website is available only in Japanese.)
Eco Choice Aotearoa (New Zealand)
This eco-label was introduced by the national government of New Zealand, and is issued by the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust.
Brother has acquired this label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones, black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones, inkjet All-in-Ones, and scanner products.
Copying Machines, Printers, Scanners and Multifunctional Devices. License No. 2410083
The name and logo of Environmental Choice New Zealand were renewed to Eco Choice Aotearoa in May 2023. (Aotearoa: the Māori-language name for New Zealand)
- Eco Choice Aotearoa by the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust
(Link to the Eco Choice Aotearoa website)
Green Mark (Taiwan)
This eco-label was introduced in Taiwan by the Ministry of Environment, and is issued by the Environment and Development Foundation.
Brother has acquired this label for color laser printers/All-in-Ones, black-and-white laser printers/All-in-Ones, and consumables.
- Green Mark Program by the Environment and Development Foundation (EDF)
(Link to the Green Mark Program website.)
Korea Eco-label (South Korea)
This eco-label is issued by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute that was established in accordance with the Development of and Support for Environmental Technology Act.
Brother has acquired this label for laser/inkjet All-in-Ones.
Type II labels
Self-declared labels by businesses
Brother Green Label (Japan)
In In October 2001, Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) established voluntary standards in accordance with JIS Q 14021 (ISO 14021) also for products in fields where third-party certification standards* are not established. Under the Brother Green Label system, an environmental label that indicates that a product meets these standards (Brother Green Label Certification Criteria), Brother recognizes products that meet these criteria in consideration of reducing environmental impact.
- This refers to Type I eco-labels established in accordance with JIS Q 14024 (ISO 14024). The criteria are defined for products and services throughout their life cycle, and the use of the label is approved after an assessment based on an application by a business provider.
Type III labels
Awarded to products whose environmental load is shown quantitatively by LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
SuMPO EPD (Japan) (formerly EcoLeaf*1)
This eco-label is awarded to products that disclose quantitative information about their environmental characteristics. It is managed and issued by the Sustainable Management Promotion Organization (SuMPO) of Japan.
Having begun its efforts in 2002, BIL has received System Certification*2 for printers and All-in-Ones. BIL is currently working on acquiring the SuMPO EPD for main Brother products.
All-in-Ones equipped with a facsimile function were calculated as "facsimiles" until March 2024. The calculation has been standardized as "printers and All-in-Ones" since April 2024, and efforts have been made to acquire the SuMPO EPD.
- EcoLeaf was renamed SuMPO EPD in April 2024.
- Examines whether the system for calculation, verification, and disclosure/application built inside a business that wishes to acquire the label meets the requirements, and issues certification if it does.
- "SuMPO EPD" by Sustainable Management Promotion Organization
(Link to the SuMPO EPD website)
Conformance label
International ENERGY STAR Program (the U.S., Japan, Canada, Taiwan and Switzerland)
This is an international energy saving program for office equipment. Its logo is awarded to products that meet the energy-saving standards.
- ENERGY STAR by the International ENERGY STAR Program(US)
(Link to the International ENERGY STAR Program website)
Energy Conservation Certification (Energy saving label) (China)
This eco-label is from China. It recognizes products for their energy-saving performance.
Green procurement laws
Products complying with the Act on Promoting Green Procurement (Japan)
In April 2001, the Act on Promoting Green Procurement came into effect.
This law requires that national governmental organizations and independent administrative institutions purchase green products, and that local public organizations and private businesses as well as individuals try to do the same.
By affixing our own eco-label to Brother products that meet the standard, BIL is promoting environmental activities to customers.
- Act on Promoting Green Procurement
(Act on Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities)
(Link to the Act on Promoting Green Procurement website)
Products compliant with the Act on Promoting Green Procurement can be found in the following website in Japanese.
- Green Purchasing Network (GPN)
(Link to the Green Purchasing Network website)
